Lifting device



Nov. 7, 1961 w. B. TERRY 3,007,734

LIFTING DEVICE Filed July 1, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 William B. Trry 1N VEN TOR.

BY M -Mm,

Nov. 7, 1961 Filed July 1. 1959 W. B. TERRY LIFTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mil/21m 8. Terry INVENTQR.

Unite This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lifting devices particularly although not necessarily, for handling large water, acid, etc., bottles or containers and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character wherein the grip will be increased in proportion to the load.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a lifting device of the character described which may readily be operated with one hand.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a lifting device of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, of light weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in side elevation, showing a lifting device constructed in accordance with the present invention in use;

FIGURE 2. is a view in front elevation of the device;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view;

FIGURE 4 is a view in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a view in front elevation, showing a modification;

FIGURE 6 is a view in side elevation of the modification;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the modification.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated in FIGURES l-4, inclusive, of said drawings comprises pairs of toggles or lazy tongs of suitable metal which are designated generally by reference character 9. The lazy tongs 9 include lower bars or links 10 which are crossed and pivotally connected at an intermediate point, as at 11. The bars of levers 10* include enlarged lower end portions 12. Secured by elongated rivets, rods or bolts 13 between the lower end portions 12 of the pairs of lazy tongs 9 is a pair of opposed, coacting jaws 14 of suitable wood, plastic or other material. The jaws 14 comprise downwardly and outwardly flaring camming, beveled faces 15 which receive and grip the bottle or other container therebetween; and as indicated in FIG- URE 4, may be semi-circular in order to conform to the container 16.

The lazy tongs 9 further include upper bars or levers 17 and 18 which are crossed and pivotally connected at an intermediate pivot point, as indicated at 19'. The power arms of the bars of levers 18 are relatively long and angulated. The lower end portions or work arms of the levers 17 and 18 are pivotally connected to the upper end portions or power arms of the lower levers 10, as indicated at 20.

Mounted between the upper end portions or power arms of the levers 18 is a handle 21 which may also be of suitable wood, plastic or other material and as indicated in FIGURES 1 and 3, is arranged to be vertically aligned with pivots 19 and 11 when the lifting device is in the illustrated load engaging position. An integral bar 22 ex tends between the power arms or upper ends of the levers States atent "ice 17. An integral thumbpiece or tab 23 is provided on one of the longitudinal edges of the connecting bar 22 conveniently disposed below the handle 21. Coil springs 24 are connected to the joints 20 of the lazy tongs 9 for yieldingly urging the jaws 14 toward closed position.

It is thought that the use of the device will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the jaws 14 are engaged with the neck 25 of the bottle 16 beneath the usual bead or flange 26 of said neck. This phase of the operation is facilitated by the beveled faces 15 of the jaws 14. It will be apparent from the drawing therefore, that by setting the device upon the top of the container, the bevel faces 15 on engaging the bead 2-6 will displace the lower levers 10 until the jaws pass beneath the head 26. The springs 24 cause the jaws 14 to engage the container with an initial bias. The device is then lifted through the medium of the handle 21 and the weight of the bottle collapses the lazy tongs 9 in a manner to cause the jaws 14 to firmly grip said bottle therebetween. The beveled faces 15 of the jaws 14 also materially assist in preventing said jaws from slipping upwardly over the bead 26. To release the load after the bottle is brought to rest on a suitable support, the lazy tongs 9 are opened or expanded by engaging the tab or thumbpiece 23 with the thumb of the hand which grips the handle 21 without releasing the grip on the handle. Of course, the jaws are opened against the light tension of the springs 24.

In the modification of FIGURES 5-8, inclusive, of the drawings, the lazy tongs 9 comprise duplicate, angulated upper bars or levers 27 which are crossed and pivotally connected at an intermediate point, as at 28. Extending between the free or upper end portions of the bars or levers 27 of the pairs of lazy tongs 9 is a pair of parallel handles 29. In other respects this form of the invention is substantially similar structurally to the embodiment of FIGURES l-4, inclusive, of the drawings. In use, the parallel handles 29 are gripped in one hand and squeezed together for manually closing the jaws on the bottle or other container. The lift is then begun and a firm, constant or uninterrupted grip is maintained on the load in an obvious manner. To release the load the handles 29 are opened or swung apart.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A lifting device having a pair of interconnected spaced lazy tong assemblies, each assembly comprising, a pair of lower crossed levers pivotally interconnected about a lower pivot axis, said lower levers having upper ends and enlarged lower ends, a pair of coacting jaws having downwardly and outwardly flaring bevel camming surfaces connected to said enlarged lower ends operative to pivotally displace the lower levers apart upon engagement of the coacting jaws with a load, a pair of upper levers pivotally interconnected about an upper pivotal axis and having lower ends pivotally connected to the upper ends of the lower levers, an elongated arm rigidly connected to one of said upper levers and extending upwardly therefrom above the upper pivotal axis at an angle to said one upper lever, and handle means interconnecting upper ends of the elongated arms of each assembly at a position in vertically spaced alignment with the lower and upper pivotal axes when the load is engaged by the coacting jaws, the other of said pair of upper levers of each assembly including portions extending above the upper pivotal axis and terminating below the handle means, and thumb release means interconnecting said portions of the other of the upper levers of each assembly for pivotally displacing the other upper levers in a jaw releasing direction for releasing the load.

2. The combination of claim 1, including spring means interconnecting the levers of each pair of upper and lower levers for applying an initial load engaging bias on the lower levers and coacting jaws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 718,790 Pervier Jan. 20, 1903 Sweden Oct. 19, 1895 

